Story To Capture

When you focus your thought, you increase its strength. Theexercises that follow are tedious and monotonous, but useful. Ifyou will persist in them you will find they are very valuable, asthey increase your powers of Psychic - Concentration. Before proceeding with the exercises I will answer a questionthat just comes to me. This person says after he works all day heis too tired to practice any exercise. But this is not true. Wewill say he comes home all tired out, eats his supper and sitsdown to rest. If his work has been mental, the thought which hasbeen occupying his mind returns to him and this prevents him fromsecuring the rest he needs. It is an admitted fact that certain thoughts call into operationa certain set of brain cells; the other cells, of course, are notbusy at that time and are rested. Now if you take up somethingthat is just different from what you have been doing during theday, you will use the cells that have not done anything and givethose that have had work to do a rest. So you should regulate theevenings that you have and call forth an entirely different lineof thought so as not to use the cells which you have tired outduring the day. If you will center your attention on a newthought, you relieve the old cells from vibrating with excitementand they get their needed rest. The other cells that have beenidle all day want to work, and you will find you can enjoy yourevenings while securing needed rest. When once you have learned to master your thoughts, you will beable to change them just as easily as you change your clothes. Remember, the real requisite of centering is to be able to shutout outside thoughts--anything foreign to the subject. Now, inorder to control your intention first gain control over the body.This must be brought under direct control of the mind; the mindunder the control of the will. Your will is strong enough to doanything you wish, but you must realize that it is. The mind canbe greatly strengthened by being brought under the directinfluence of the will. When the mind is properly strengthened bythe impulse of the will it becomes a more powerful transmitter ofthought, because it has more force. The Best Time to Concentrate Is after reading something that isinspiring, as you are then mentally and spiritually exalted inthe desired realm. Then is the time you are ready for deepPsychic - Concentration. If you are in your room first see that yourwindows are up and the air is good. Lie down flat on your bedwithout a pillow. See that every muscle is relaxed. Now breatheslowly, filling the lungs comfortably full of fresh air; holdthis as long as you can without straining yourself; then exhaleslowly. Exhale in an easy, rhythmic way. Breathe this way forfive minutes, letting the Divine Breath flow through you, whichwill cleanse and rejuvenate every cell of brain and body. You are then ready to proceed. Now think how quiet and relaxedyou are. You can become enthusiastic over your condition. Justthink of yourself as getting ready to receive knowledge that isfar greater than you have ever received before. Now relax and letthe spirit work in and through you and assist you to accomplishwhat you wish. Don't let any doubts or fears enter. Just feel that what you wishis going to manifest. Just feel it already has, in reality ithas, for just the minute you wish a thing to be done it manifestsin the thought world. Whenever you concentrate just believe it isa success. Keep up this feeling and allow nothing to interfereand you will soon find you have become the master ofPsychic - Concentration. You will find that this practice will be ofwonderful value to you, and that rapidly you will be learning toaccomplish anything that you undertake.

There are an estimated 4,500 deaths and 45,000 hospitalizations per year in the United States as a result of burn-related injuries. A burn is a type of injury to the skin caused by heat, electricity, chemicals or radiation. Types of burns are divided into 3 categories; first degree, second degree and third degree. Each type of burn must be treated in a specific manner and it is important to know how to recognize each form of burn as well as the treatment methods used in each specific situation. Treating a burn in an incorrect manner can cause serious harm to the victim. Here is a summary of each form of burn as well as treatment methods for each: 1.    First Degree Burns - This is the least serious type of burn and will usually heal on its own within a couple days. First degree burns typically heal completely and rarely result in any form of scarring. This type of burn injures the epidermis (top layer of skin) and usually produces a pink or reddish color on the area of skin which is burnt. Treatment   First degree burns (also known as minor burns) can be treated at home and very rarely require medical assistance. Your best option is to run the burnt area under cool water for approximately 10 minutes to stop the burning. Do not use ice or cold water since they can potentially cause further the damage to the skin. If you are applying a bandage to the wound, make sure it is loose otherwise it will stick to the burn, become painful and possibly cause infection. Vitamins C, E and zinc will help with the healing process, but only in recommended amounts.  Aloe Vera is said to have healing properties as well. 2.    Second Degree Burns   This type of burn is an injury to the tissues in the body. Second degree burns are classified according to the amount of tissue they affect and how deep they are. Second degree burns not only injure the epidermis but continue down to the deeper layers of skin called the dermis. Second degree burns are usually bright red and produce blisters. This type of burn is likely to cause scarring and usually takes about one to three weeks to heal. Treatment   Second degree burns require medical assistance and antibiotics are often prescribed to help the healing process. Call for medical help as soon as the burn occurs and make sure not to apply any form of lotion or greasy substance to the wound. These trap in heat and prevent the wound from healing correctly.  3.    Third Degree Burns   Third degree burns destroy the dermis and epidermis and often affect other organs, tissues and bones. Third degree burns are considered the most serious of burns and often produce charred patches on the skin which are white, brown or black. There will likely be very little pain for a victim experiencing a third degree burn since the nerves will likely be destroyed and the victim may be in shock. Treatment   All third degree burns require medical attention and it is crucial to get the victim to the hospital (or an ambulance on scene) immediately. You can assist the victim by removing jewelry and tight clothing from the burnt area before swelling occurs. Do not try and remove clothes if they are stuck to the wound.  Never apply ice, cold water, lotions, ointments sprays or any other form of liquid to the wound. Third degree burns often require cosmetic surgery or skin grafting in order to heal.   Learning and understanding the types of burns and their treatment methods can potentially save your own life or the life of someone else.

Vitamin E is an absolutely vital nutrient in your body, but it probably can't do half the things you heard it can. What does vitamin E do? To begin, it is an antioxidant. It tames dangerous free radicals and helps prevent blood clots and blockages in coronary arteries. Research points to its ability to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart attacks and some cancers. Vitamin E is also believed to slow the aging process and to help nerve conduction. Most importantly, it works to enhance and even protect vitamin C and Vitamin A. There is also promising research that vitamin E might help prevent or slow the onset of cataracts in the eyes. Vitamin E has been touted as a cure for just about everything but a broken heart. I am sure that's coming, though. Here are just a few of the diseases and conditions vitamin E has been credited with curing or preventing: Parkinson's disease Infertility in both men and women Alzheimer's disease Hepatitis eye tissue inflammation fibromylagia hair loss PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) heavy menstruation healing wounds diabetes atherosclerosis menopause osteoarthritis even restless leg syndrome! It might well prove that vitamin is helpful in some of these and other conditions, but probably not in many or even most of them. As with many vitamins, there is a raging debate over how much vitamin E you need. The US recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 8-10 milligrams per day. But most people in the nutrition field believe that to capture the long-term benefits, people need 10 to 20 times that quantity, which is well short of the maximum recommended 1,000 milligrams. Vitamin E is found in many foods in small quantities. The good news is that almost everyone gets sufficient vitamin E to avoid a deficiency, with a few exceptions noted below. The bad news is that most people do not get the RDA. This is definitely a vitamin that should be supplemented. Be careful about what supplements you choose, since the synthetic version of vitamin E is not even half effective as in its natural form. Look for nutritional supplements containing natural vitamin E, preferably in liquid form. People on low fat diets need supplements the most, since fats and oils are the largest sources of vitamin E. Nuts and green, leafy vegetables are also good sources, as are egg yolks and liver. So are whole grains. Vitamin E probably will never cure your broken heart, nor live up to half of the claims people make about it. But it is an important vitamin for maintaining good health and it is needed in quantities above what most people take in their diet.

Have you seen the latest drug commercial? You know, the one where the guy is walking down a spiral stair case with numbers printed on each step gradually going lower. He s talking about how your doctors have told you that now you need to get your cholesterol even lower than you did before. It s a myth; and a dangerous one at that.  Let s start with just a bit of very basic biology.  What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is part of a group of compounds called sterols. Cholesterol is primarily produced by the liver, however, every cell in the human body is also capable of making cholesterol.  What is the role of cholesterol? Cholesterol is used by the body to form cholic acid which is then used to make bile salts. Bile salts are necessary to digest fat. In addition, cholesterol is necessary for the production of adrenal and reproductive hormones such as DHEA, pregnenolone, progesterone, testosterone, estrogen, aldosterone and cortisol. Cholesterol is also used to make the skin impervious to water and other substances that may be harmful to the body as well as to bind with toxins in the blood which will then reduce inflammation protecting the nerves, brain tissue and heart. Biology lesson over. We can now understand why cholesterol is important. So why has it been give such a bad rap? The myth started when scientists determined that there was a correlation between cholesterol in the blood and heart disease. If you had the wonderful opportunity to take any sort of research classes in school, you might remember that a correlation doesn t mean anything. It simply means two things are present at the same time. This is like circumstantial evidence, just because someone is found holding the gun, doesn t mean they pulled the trigger.  Working to lower cholesterol as a way to treat heart disease is kind of like getting a bunion removed because you have a headache.  It s important to note that cholesterol levels that are too high should be addressed. But what is too high? It used to be that what were considered normal were readings between 0 and 200. Anything above 200 was said to indicate heart disease. This was recently lowered to 0 to 169. But why was it lowered? Statistics show that heart disease rates are not improving. Despite statin drugs that are designed to lower cholesterol, people are still dying of heart attacks and more and more individuals are being diagnosed with some form of heart disease. The drug manufacturers certainly don t want to admit that their drugs aren t working as intended (even though they are somewhat successful at lowering cholesterol), so they decide that it s because the cholesterol levels are not low enough. If they drop the normal ranges, then they can sell more drugs and pass the buck for the continuing trend of heart disease. The natural health experts are still out but there seems to be an unwritten agreement that levels between 175 and 230 are ideal. Levels below 150 or above 250 may indicate the need for more attention but do not necessarily indicate heart disease. There are better methods for determining the risk of heart disease; the ratio between LDL and HDL for example. Better yet is a test gaining popularity and much media attention for something called C-reactive Protein. While it isn t healthy to have extremely high cholesterol, it also isn t healthy to have very low cholesterol. A short word about statin drugs Despite no scientific evidence showing that statin drugs reduce the risk of heart disease and despite evidence that they are not as successful in the real world for treating cholesterol as they had shown to be in the studies, statin drugs are one of the most commonly over-prescribed drugs in the US. Statins have many side effects, including increasing the risk for heart disease. Statins deplete CoQ10, an important co-enzyme for cardiac health. In addition they lower antioxidant levels, cause headaches, fatigue, memory loss, difficulty sleeping, and, of course, liver damage. It s important to be proactive with your health. Don t let your doctors be the complete authority just as you wouldn t trust the salesman to give you all the details when making a large purchase. Do your own homework.

From tender age, we were exposed to myths about money and myths of being rich. Be it from our parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, or friends. The myths that we have determine our financial well being in our adult lives. I call them myths because they are not true. Or, at least they are not giving you the complete picture. We can't blame our parents for the myths in us. They already gave us the best they could. And don't forget that times change. Things were true then may not be true today. If you want to move ahead financially, you have to be aware of the myths that you have about wealth and money. And do not let the myths stop you from living a wealthy life. Money Myth 1: Work hard and you'll be rich. Many of us think that by having a job with a big company would ensure that we're on the path to financial freedom. With so many layoff announcements, we might be out of job anytime. I'm not saying that you'd be one of them but the fact is there is no job that is guaranteed.  Recently, my friend was laid off in less than a month in his new job. Having a job is merely helping you to cope with daily expenses, providing you shelter, food and clothing. Do not be misled that a job or your employer will turn you into a rich and wealthy person. No one cares more than you about your wealth. Money Myth 2: Saving is good. When I was small, I was told by my mother that I must learn to save. I thank my mother for inculcating the habit of saving in me. The habit of saving helps me to develop discipline. Many people think that when they save enough, one fine day they'll be rich.  But is saving alone enough to make you wealthy?  I came to realize that if I only depend on my savings to get rich, I'd have to wait for a long time. That's the problem with savings, it takes a long time for you to get rich. Saving alone is not enough. You have to learn to invest your money in other investment vehicles to grow your money faster. Money Myth 3: Debt is evil. The other common myth about money is debt is bad. Did your parents ever tell you that borrowing was bad? Mine did. Not all debt is bad, actually. It depends on how you spend your loans that you're getting. If you take a credit card loan to buy a flat plasma TV, it's a bad debt. On the other hand, if you take loans to start a business or invest in real estate, the debt is good.  If debt is bad, can you imagine what would happen to companies if they are not allowed to take loans from the banks? As a general rule, if you use debts to buy things that increase in value over time, they are good debts. You must know whether the debt you're taking is good or bad. Money Myth 4: You need money to make money. When I ask my friends what's stopping them from starting their own business, the common answer is "I don't have money. And it takes money to make money." I do agree that it takes money to make money. But does it really to be yo?r own money?  Everybody has limited resources when it comes to achieving our financial goals. I do not expect you to have everything when you plan to build your own business. You might need financial backing, manpower, expertise, or a coach to guide you. If you lack resources in any areas, find the resources. Someone else will definitely have it. It does take money to make money, but you can use OPM - other people's money.  Money Myth 5: Investing is risky. Many think that investing is risky because they lack education in investing. Investing itself is not risky if you know how to control the risks. Most of us invest based on a tip from a friend or broker without doing our own research. When you lose money, you say that investing is risky. And you tell yourself that you'll never invest again.  To be frank, everything we do has a risk in it. Learn to manage risks by educating yourself. You can educate yourself by attending seminars, reading books, or even from the Internet. Money Myth 6: Wealth reflects in material possessions. Material possessions reflect your level of wealth. This is a misleading measurement. Someone who is driving a Porsche might not be rich and he might highly in debt.  Wealth does not reflect in material possessions. Wealth is a state of mind. Wealth is how fast you can become rich if you're stripped of everything. As Henry Ford once said after he was asked what he would do if he lost all his fortunes, "I'll become a millionaire again within five years." We possess one or more of the above myths, consciously or unconsciously. But what is more important is to be aware of the myths and replace the myths with facts. By doing this will tremendously improve your financial well being.

When you find yourself living with pain every minute of every hour of every day, just getting up in the morning can seem like too much to ask.  When you find it hard to remember the last time you weren t in pain, it s not unusual for fear and depression to take hold and drag you into a downward spiral that makes the pain even worse.  Even on good days, exercising can still be the last thing you feel like doing.There s evidence, however, that exercise may be one of the best things you can do to help manage chronic pain.  A recent (2000) study by Martin Hoffman found that moderate exercise reduced the amount of pain people suffering from chronic back-ache perceived they felt. Other anecdotal studies and reports have confirmed that sometimes, activity can work wonders.   THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXERCISE & PAIN RELIEFExperts have suggested four possible reasons for the pain-reducing effect of activity.  The first has to do with endorphins. These are chemicals your body produces naturally during exercise, which have the same kind of effect as opiates like morphine and codeine.  Endorphins actually block the perception of pain, and create a general feeling of wellness, both of which are invaluable to someone with chronic pain.A second reason is that regular activity helps to improve both the ease with which we fall asleep, and the quality of our rest once we do.  Pain, can become more or less difficult to deal with depending on our resource levels. Most sufferers experience difficulty sleeping when the pain is bad, which can prompt another downward spiral. Something that helps us sleep better, means more energy and resources, which in turn, allows us to cope better with the pain we experience.A third is that exercise helps release tension (see Exercise & Stress for an explanation of why). Tension, stress and frustration, as any sufferer of chronic pain will attest, increase pain levels. This means that anything that helps relax the body will also usually help reduce pain levels.Finally, if the chronic pain occurs after an injury, targeted exercise can strengthen the muscles around the injury site, taking pressure off the injured tissue. Of course, the wrong kind of exercise can actually re-injure the area too, so it s important to get professional guidance from a physiotherapist, or a personal trainer who specialises in rehabilitation work, rather than trying to go it alone.USING EXERCISE TO HELP YOU MANAGE PAINAn important disclaimer: this article is written assuming that, if you re experiencing chronic pain, you re already working with a healthcare professional to manage it (and if not, you need to be!)  Check any suggestions you want to try with that professional, and follow their recommendations. Also, if an activity increases your pain levels, don t do it. It s OK to have muscles that are tired and slightly sore the day after. It s not OK to experience any joint pain or sharp, stabbing pain during or after exercise, or anything that makes your chronic pain worse. If you experience any of these, seek advice from your healthcare professional as soon as possible.That said, the most beneficial kind of exercise depends very much on the individual. One of Optimum Life s key principles is that activity will always do more good if it s something you enjoy. This is even more important when you experience chronic pain, when something you start dreading or tensing up about can quickly make your condition worse. Additionally, it helps if you choose activities that give you a good range of aerobic, strength, and flexibility exercises.  Good potential choices to start with include walking, swimming, stationary cycling, yoga or t ai chi.Finally, be aware that exercise will be most helpful for pain management if it s one out of many tools you use.  Medication, diet, visualisation, relaxation, acupuncture and biofeedback have all been shown to have positive effects on pain individually   but the best effects seem to come from taking a multi-disciplinary approach.  Take time to research the different therapies available to you. There are a number of excellent pain management sites online   two of the more popular ones include The Chronic Pain Haven or The Mayo Clinic.Chronic pain will never be fun to live with, but there are options available that make it more manageable.  Give yourself the gift of being willing to try out different options until you find the combination that s right for you, and don t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.  Meanwhile, until the next issue, may every day bring you closer to your Optimum Life.If you have any questions about this week s article, please don t hesitate to contact me. Otherwise, until next time, may every day bring you closer to your Optimum Life.      About the author:     Optimum Life's Tanja Gardner is a Personal Trainer and Stress Management Coach whose articles on holistic health and relaxation have appeared in various media since 1999. Optimum Life is dedicated to providing fitness and stress management services to help clients all over the world achieve their optimum lives.

Tea and Cancer Prevention Tea drinking is an ancient tradition dating back 5,000 years in China and India. Long regarded in those cultures as an aid to good health, researchers now are studying tea for possible use in the prevention and treatment of a variety of cancers. Investigators are especially interested in the antioxidants-called catechins-found in tea.  1. What are antioxidants?  The human body constantly produces unstable molecules called oxidants, also commonly referred to as free radicals. To become stable, oxidants steal electrons from other molecules and, in the process, damage cell proteins and genetic material. This damage may leave the cell vulnerable to cancer. Antioxidants are substances that allow the human body to scavenge and seize oxidants. Like other antioxidants, the catechins found in tea selectively inhibit specific enzyme activities that lead to cancer. They may also target and repair DNA aberrations caused by oxidants (1).  2. What is the level of antioxidants found in tea?  All varieties of tea come from the leaves of a single evergreen plant, Camellia sinensis. All tea leaves are picked, rolled, dried, and heated. With the additional process of allowing the leaves to ferment and oxidize, black tea is produced. Possibly because it is less processed, green tea contains higher levels of antioxidants than black tea.  Although tea is consumed in a variety of ways and varies in its chemical makeup, one study showed steeping either green or black tea for about five minutes released over 80 percent of its catechins. Instant iced tea, on the other hand, contains negligible amounts of catechins (1).  3. What are the laboratory findings?  In the laboratory, studies have shown tea catechins act as powerful inhibitors of cancer growth in several ways: They scavenge oxidants before cell injuries occur, reduce the incidence and size of chemically induced tumors, and inhibit the growth of tumor cells. In studies of liver, skin and stomach cancer, chemically induced tumors were shown to decrease in size in mice that were fed green and black tea (1, 2).  4. What are the results of human studies?  Although tea has long been identified as an antioxidant in the laboratory, study results involving humans have been contradictory. Some epidemiological studies comparing tea drinkers to non-tea drinkers support the claim that drinking tea prevents cancer; others do not. Dietary, environmental, and population differences may account for these inconsistencies.  Two studies in China, where green tea is a mainstay of the diet, resulted in promising findings. One study involving over 18,000 men found tea drinkers were about half as likely to develop stomach or esophageal cancer as men who drank little tea, even after adjusting for smoking and other health and diet factors (3). A second study at the Beijing Dental Hospital found consuming 3 grams of tea a day, or about 2 cups, along with the application of a tea extract reduced the size and proliferation of leukoplakia, a precancerous oral plaque (1).  5. Is NCI evaluating tea?  National Cancer Institute (NCI) researchers are also investigating the therapeutic use of green tea. One recently completed but unpublished NCI trial studied the antitumor effect of green tea among prostate cancer patients. The 42 patients drank 6 grams of green tea, or about 4 cups, daily for four months. However, only one patient experienced a short-lived improvement, and nearly 70 percent of the group experienced unpleasant side effects such as nausea and diarrhea. The study concluded drinking green tea has limited antitumor benefit for prostate cancer patients (5).  Other ongoing NCI studies are testing green tea as a preventive agent against skin cancer. For example, one is investigating the protective effects of a pill form of green tea against sun-induced skin damage while another explores the topical application of green tea in shrinking precancerous skin changes.  Visit  pcshealth.com for more articles and research on green tea.

Now that the new year is here, many of us are struggling to hold onto our usual new year's resolutions. Have you noticed that most of the time resolutions add to your 'to-do' list rather than simplifying your life? Why not making a resolution to simplify your life instead? Do you often feel overwhelmed with things to do, places to be? You enjoy being productive but feel frantic during the day? You are organized and live by your to-do list and yet this chore list seems to get longer rather than shorter? Do you know a lot of people but often wonder why there doesn't seem to be any time for deep connections? Simplifying one's life means just that, letting go of certain habits, conventions, or actions that don't serve you in creating more meaning in your life, and then using that energy to create connections, peace and a sense of gratitude.  We all want to be of service, be professional, get things done, be responsible and reliable, be the best we can be but we often forget ourselves on the way. No wonder we end up feeling so overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take that will help you let go of things that are not bringing meaning into your life, so you can have more time for those things that are truly important to you! These changes will allow you to find more fulfillment and joy in your everyday activities. Peace and serenity are attainable when you re-arrange your life for more balance.  The most common complaint I hear in my coaching practice is from the 'Super mom.' (Now, this example also applies to you men, so read on.) The 'super mom' has a demanding career but she also volunteers at school, bakes cookies for her children's class, takes care of the house, chauffeurs the kids around and listens to her partner's concerns late at night. All of these responsibilities may be important to her. But they can take over, creating a schedule that allows for no time for self or meaningful relationships with others. There is only one solution: Simplify!  To experience more joy, we need to let go of certain activities, to create a space that we can fill with more meaning. All our obligations and assignments are serving some purpose. Yet, we need to have the courage to say 'No' so that we can slow down and make time for ourselves. We also need to get to know ourselves. Often we have not taken time for reflection on what gives us true fulfillment. Once we know what we really want, we need to put a realistic plan in place. Change doesn't just happen by willpower but by laying out a concrete plan that is attainable and measurable. We need to create a list of those activities we will courageously say 'No' to, scheduling blocks of time for whatever holds meaning for us and then safeguarding them. We also need someone to hold us accountable during these times of creating new habits and lifestyle changes. Tell a friend, a coach, your partner or even your boss which changes you will accomplish. Lastly, we need to consistently take action on our new plans until the new rhythm of life becomes a habit.  So, what can you say 'No' to today so that your life will be simpler and more meaningful? How can you say it so that it gets heard and understood? Where can you create a space that you then thoughtfully fill with something that holds deep meaning to you? If you chose one action that would allow you to create some time for peace, reflection and connection, what would it be? How frequently do you need this special time? How can you safeguard it? And who should you tell about your plans? Who can be your support?  Today's the day to make a commitment to yourself. Get out your calendar and block off that special time for the coming month. And keep saying 'No thank you' to new obligations that would jeopardize your time for you. Once you have a little practice, you'll be surprised how easy it is to simplify!

For the best diet results, you need a personalized diet that you can stick to.  Maybe your aiming to shape up, or to improve your fitness and health, no matter what you want to achieve the best way to achieve it is with a diet that is designed for you - to suit your tastes, habits, and lifestyle.  A personalized diet plan can be obtained from a multitude of sources. Provided you have no major health problems and your trying to lose weight (as opposed to lowering cholesterol which will probably require a more specialised diet) then one of the many diets offered by the major fitness and diet gurus will do the job perfectly. Just pick the diet that best suits you. Advice can also be obtained at your local gym where there will usually be a knowledgeable person who can help you find your perfect diet.  Everyone reacts differently to diets, certain diets which cause immediate weight loss for you may cause lackluster change in other people. So personalizing your diet - making it suit you - can greatly increase the benefits you get out of your diet. So verify that the food you eat is the correct food for you.  If you suffer from a health condition that is interfering with your diet, or perhaps isn't compatible with your diet, you should avoid changing the diet to suit your condition without consulting your doctor first. Most doctors will be able to tell you what foods are or aren't compatible with your condition and advise you on what to do with your diet.  Of course your doctor knows as much as anyone about your health. They are in an excellent position to help you decide on the diet that will be most effective for you. They will also be able to spot any potential problems with a diet you are on, or are considering. For example if you are on medication to prevent blood clots then you shouldn't eat green vegetables (spinach in particular). Your doctor will spot issues like this and point them out to you.  Most mass market diets are designed to be 'one size fits all', but in truth we are all different. What works for one person might not work for you. That's why the diet that you can tailor to your self and your body is the best kind of diet. So when you are considering diets check if the diet can be shaped to suit you, this is the kind of diet that will work best.  Another problem is that depending on where you live, some diets might call for you to eat a particular food that is difficult or even impossible to find. They might also require you to eat foods that are out of season or more expensive to buy in your location than others. If this is the case, you should change your diet to include foods that are easier to come by, but that also work in your diet.  Of course there is little point in beginning your diet with great determination only to find a week later you dont have the ability to stick with it. It is important that you ease yourself into your diet when possible. Phase out your old diet while gradually adopting your new personalised diet.  That way you'll be able to stick with it and get the most out of your new diet.  Avoid a diet that requires you to abruptly change your eating habits, forcing you to stop eating your favourite foods for example. Changes like that will cause temptation and make you cheta on your diet. A diet like this will rarely last long enough to have any meaningful effect on your health or weight.  If your diet has an aim - like losing weight or lowering your blood pressure then you should consider making a progress chart. that way you can look at the chart and see how far you've come and how much closer to your goal you are. that kind of encouragement will give you a much needed boost in your confidence, and your resolve to work along the path of your new diet and achieve your goals.

Recent TV news showed that various food brands are offering low carbohydrate foods due to public demand. That just shows how poorly informed the public can be. The Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.com/) tells us that "Every day your body requires certain nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats and protein, to function properly. Too much of one nutrient or not enough of another can influence your health." Encyclopedia Britannica (http://www.britannica.com) tells how carbohydrates can be classified, but they are all described as molecules of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen. "Carbohydrates are the most abundant molecules in all biology." Carbohydrates and oils are the means that plants store energy. Few plant fats are saturated. Fats are also compounds of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen, but in more complex structures than carbohydrates. The more structural bonds, the less liquid is the fat at room temperature. Such liquid fats are called oils. Hydrogenating oils creates more hydrogen bonds to make liquids into soft or hard fats. These trans-fats are bad for cardiovascular health. The "essential fatty acids" are the ones that the human body cannot create from other foods, such as proteins. Proteins have many structures, but are mostly composed of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen plus Nitrogen. The essential amino acids are those proteins which the human body cannot create from other foods. Of course, foods also contain essential vitamins and minerals. Supplements of these can be beneficial, if not overdone. High / Low Carbohydrate / Protein diets really miss the target. Once minimal needs of each food type are met, the real issue is high or low calories compared to those used. If you eat more than your exercise can burn, you gain weight, and vice versa. Carbohydrates as sugars are fine as nature provides them, but not as refined and concentrated by humans. Like any source of calories, excess consumption leads to body fat. The details will vary, but a five pound bag of fresh fruit contains fewer calories than a typical candy bar. Supposed high protein diets are often filled with hidden fats. For example, consider ground beef. Center for Science in the Public Interest, with reports on-line at www.cspinet.org, tells us "USDA allows ground beef labels to make claims that would be illegal on other foods." "Ground beef accounts for 45 percent of the beef sold in the U.S. and it adds more fat -- and more artery- clogging saturated fat -- to the average American's diet than any other single food." "The USDA allows no more than 10 percent fat by weight in most foods that are labeled 'lean.' But the USDA allows ground beef that is up to 22.5 percent fat to be called 'lean.'" Of course, that fat is "saturated". In contrast, protein from plants, such as grains and legumes, has much less fat than ground beef and none of it is saturated. Tempeh, an Asian food made from whole soy beans with careful fermentation, has more protein than an equal amount (volume or weight) of ground beef, and also contains all the essential amino acids. So try this for healthy diet rules. Eat all the vegetables and fruits you can stand, but without sauces, dressings, added sugar, butter, margarine, or cheese. The same applies to grain foods, such as whole grain breads and pastas. Get at least some of your proteins from plant sources. Avoid all foods fried in fat or oil. I lost weight and one third of my blood cholesterol by reducing my beef and pork consumption, increasing my use of broiled and baked fish and chicken, and learning about soy foods that are now available in North America. Even Ph.D. scientists can mis-lead themselves with wishful thinking. A former colleague of mine was often heard to describe his high protein, low carb diet in terms of complex biochemical theories, yet he was always at least 100 pounds overweight. He also ate and drank about three times as much as I did at shared meals.